Device for Storing Objects and Method Using Such a Device

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for managing storage of objects such as packages or the like. In particular, in a storage device includes at least one locker having a device for locking/unlocking the locker and a plurality of sensors designed to deliver data specific to the objects deposited in the locker. The method includes: receiving a request to store an object in a locker of the storage device; identifying an object type which matches the object to be stored; according to the object type identified, selecting, from the plurality of locker sensors, a set of sensors to be activated at least while the locker is in use; upon detecting that the locker is in use, activating the selected sensors in order to monitor the storage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Section 371 National Stage Application ofInternational Application No. PCT/FR2019/050325, filed Feb. 14, 2019,the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, and published as WO2019/158862 on Aug. 22, 2019, not inEnglish.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a storage device for storing objects,the device typically comprising one or more lockers able to be locked orunlocked by authorized users, and to a method implementing such astorage device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The growth in particular in sales, exchanges and loans via the Internetis leading to an increase in the number of packages to be delivered anddelivery trucks. These packages are brought to the recipients' homes, orstored in hangars belonging to the carriers.

The increase in these deliveries is having a severe impact on roadtraffic (trucks causing congestion of roadways) and in fact on airpollution. It is also leading to time being wasted when delivery was notable to be completed due to absence, and when it is necessary to pick upthe package from another location.

In this regard, it is possible to observe an overall change in consumerbehavior, and there is generally a desire for a better quality of life(less pollution), to buy or borrow and to use more local goods andproducts (typically food produced locally and without excessivelyextensive means, or else everyday objects).

The share of the collaborative and/or peer-to-peer economy is alsoconstantly growing, in accordance with a new model based on peoplesharing or exchanging goods (automobiles, housing, parking, hardwaresuch as a drill or the like, etc.), services (carpooling, DIY, etc.), orknowledge (computer courses, learning communities, etc.), with amonetary exchange (sale, rental, service provision) or without amonetary exchange (donations, barter, volunteering), via networking(digital platform).

Nowadays, for example, there are many types of vending machines sellingdrinks, fruit and vegetables (eggs, cheese, bread, etc.), even ice creamor oysters. These vending machines are installed along roadsides or inlocal locations as producers and consumers convert to direct sales andto these local services linked to this new collaborative economy.

One technical problem with these vending machines is that these vendingmachines usually have only a single function, for the sale of consumablegoods or of equipment specific to the type of vending machine. In fact,each vending machine is of a specific nature.

SUMMARY

The present invention aims to improve the situation.

To this end, it proposes a method, implemented by computer means, formanaging the storage of objects, the method comprising, in a storagedevice comprising at least one locker including a locking/unlockingmember for locking/unlocking the locker and a plurality of sensorsdesigned to deliver data specific to the objects deposited in thelocker:

-   -   receiving a request to store an object in a locker of the        storage device;    -   determining a type of object corresponding to the object to be        stored;    -   selecting, on the basis of the determined type of object, a set        of sensors from among the plurality of sensors of the locker to        be activated at least during use of the locker;    -   upon detecting use of the locker, activating the selected        sensors in order to monitor the storage.

Such an implementation makes it possible in particular, by selectingsensors suitable for the type of object to be stored, to offer a lockera plurality of possible uses, and to do so for various applications(package delivery, object donation, foodstuff delivery or the like).

In one embodiment, the method furthermore comprises:

-   -   receiving data relating to the object;    -   determining the type of object on the basis of the received        data;    -   upon detecting use of the locker, processing the data delivered        by the set of activated sensors in order to check whether the        object deposited in the locker corresponds to the determined        type of object according to at least one chosen criterion, and    -   controlling the locking/unlocking member for locking/unlocking        the locker according to a respectively positive/negative check        on the deposited object.

Such an implementation makes it possible in particular, in one specificapplication, to check that the object placed in the locker actuallycorresponds to a description given beforehand by an entity responsiblefor returning the object to the locker. In such an application inparticular, the sensors of the locker are selected and activated so asto allow this check.

In particular, there may be provision for at least some of the sensorsof said selected set of sensors to be activated before the locker islocked, in order to check whether the object deposited in the lockerconforms to data from among the data received in relation to the object.

Nevertheless, all or some of the sensors of the locker may then be usedto monitor the object during storage. Thus, at least some of the sensorsof said selected set of sensors may furthermore be activated after thelocker is locked, in order to monitor the object deposited in the lockerduring the locking of the locker. For example, the locker may compriseat least one gas analysis sensor, activated for a type of objectcorresponding to a perishable foodstuff.

In one variant application in which the object has not been specificallydescribed beforehand, the method may furthermore comprise:

-   -   determining the type of object on the basis of data generated by        at least one of the sensors of the selected set of sensors.

For example, determining the type of object may use one or more sensorsof the locker, for example a camera that takes a digital photograph inorder to compare it with an object database, and/or a pressure sensorfor comparing the weight with data from the database. It is thuspossible to automatically detect the object placed in the locker.

In one embodiment, the storage device comprises a plurality of lockers,and at least one locker is chosen, from among said plurality of lockers,to store objects on the basis of the type of object to be stored, andthe method furthermore comprises:

-   -   identifying a locker including the selected set of sensors and        able to store the object.

Thus, even though a locker may comprise a large number of sensors and beassigned to a large number of possible uses within the meaning of thepresent invention, for specific storage of an object requiring a giventype of sensor, it is possible, through this implementation, to select aparticular locker from among a set of lockers in order to select thisparticular locker if it comprises the sensor suitable for the storage ofa specific object. It will thus be understood that all of the lockersmay form part of a system comprising a processing circuit capable ofdetermining one or more lockers suitable for a given type of storage.

In one embodiment, the set of sensors that are activated for a givenlocker is able to be modified at least from one unlocking of the lockerto a next unlocking, in particular on the basis of the type of object tobe stored.

Thus, in this embodiment, a locker used for storing a given object isable to be reused for storing another object, possibly of a differenttype.

In the embodiment in which the data relating to the object are obtained,said data may comprise at least image data of the object, and the set ofactivated sensors comprises a camera able, in cooperation with a shaperecognition module, to acquire at least one image of the objectfollowing the deposition of the object in the locker and to recognize atleast one deposited type of object, the method then furthermorecomprising:

-   -   determining whether the image data of the object correspond to        the recognized type of object.

As an alternative or in combination, the data relating to the object maycomprise at least data about the weight of the object, and the set ofactivated sensors comprises a pressure sensor on a lower internal wallof the locker for weighing the object following the deposition of theobject in the locker, the method then furthermore comprising:

-   -   determining whether the weight measured by the pressure sensor        corresponds to the weight of the object according to the        received data.

In one general embodiment, it is possible to provide for theabovementioned locker to comprise one or more openings formed in atleast one wall of the locker. The method may thus comprise:

-   -   after selecting the set of sensors to be activated, routing at        least one sensor of the selected set to the opening in the wall        of the locker in order to at least partially insert this sensor        into the locker.

In such an embodiment, it is then possible for example to pool sensorsbetween a plurality of lockers that the storage device may comprise.Thus, if a sensor required by the type of object to be stored is notavailable in the locker intended to receive this object, there may beprovision to route a homologous sensor to the opening of this locker.

Thus, in one embodiment in which the storage device furthermorecomprises at least one housing for a plurality of sensors, the methodmay comprise:

-   -   after selecting the set of sensors to be activated, checking        availability of the sensors of the selected set in the locker,    -   and, if at least one of the sensors of the set is unavailable in        the locker, routing a sensor homologous to the unavailable        sensor from the sensor housing to the opening of the locker.

As mentioned above, a sensor may be shared between a plurality oflockers and, depending on the respective storage monitoring requirementsin the various respective lockers, a specific sensor may be chosen forthe requirements of a given locker and there may then be provision toroute this sensor from the abovementioned housing to the opening of thisgiven locker.

In such an embodiment:

-   -   the storage device comprises a plurality of lockers each        comprising at least one wall comprising at least one opening,    -   the housing comprises a plurality of distinct types of sensors        at predetermined locations in the housing,    -   the storage device furthermore comprises a routing member for        routing a sensor from a location of this sensor in the housing        to a locker opening.

The method may thus comprise:

-   -   after selecting the set of sensors to be activated in a current        locker, checking availability of the sensors of the selected set        in the current locker,    -   and, if at least one of the sensors of the set is unavailable in        the current locker, directing the routing member to control the        routing of a sensor homologous to the unavailable sensor from        the location of the homologous sensor in the sensor housing to        the opening of the current locker.

Of course, prior to any routing of a sensor to a current locker, itshould be checked whether all of the sensors of the selected set are notalready all present in this current locker.

The abovementioned routing member may comprise a gripping member (forexample an articulated mechanical clamp or a magnetized head forattracting the metal parts of the sensor). The routing member may thustake the form of an articulated arm for example, or even comprise railsand/or cables for routing the sensors.

Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous as such. It may moreoverfurthermore target the routing of actuators to the abovementionedopening of a locker.

Such an actuator may for example be a light device (of LED or othertype) for illuminating the inside of the locker or the like.

The present invention also targets a storage device comprising at leastone locker equipped with a plurality of sensors and a processing circuitfor implementing the above method.

One example of such a processing circuit is illustrated in FIG. 5, whichis commented upon below.

The present invention also targets a system comprising:

-   -   a server and    -   a storage device comprising:    -   at least one locker including a plurality of sensors,    -   an actuator for locking/unlocking the locker,    -   and a communication module for communicating with the server,        the server comprising a processing circuit for:    -   receiving a request to store an object in a locker,    -   determining a type of object corresponding to the object to be        stored;    -   selecting, on the basis of the determined type of object, a set        of sensors from among the plurality of sensors of the locker to        be activated at least during use of the locker;    -   upon detecting use of the locker, activating the selected        sensors in order to monitor the storage.

One example of such a system is illustrated in FIG. 3, which iscommented upon below.

The server of the abovementioned system is an important element, and thepresent invention may furthermore target the server for managing storageof an object in a storage device, of a system within the meaning of thepresent invention.

One example of such a server and of its processing circuit isillustrated in FIG. 6, which is commented upon below.

The present invention also targets a computer program containinginstructions for implementing the above method when these instructionsare executed by a processor.

FIG. 4, which is commented upon below, illustrates one example of ageneral algorithm for such a computer program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, details and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent on reading the following detailed description, and on analyzingthe appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a locker of a storage device proposed according toone or more embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a set of lockers of a storage device proposedaccording to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a system comprising a storage device and a serveraccording to one or more embodiments, cooperating via a wide areanetwork in the example that is shown;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a method proposed according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a processing circuit of a storagedevice proposed according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a processing circuit of a serverproposed according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates one possible exemplary embodiment of the pooling of asensor, in this case between two lockers, in a sectional view of acommon partition between the two lockers CAS1 and CAS2, this partitioncomprising two parallel walls PAR1 and PAR2;

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of sharing a plurality of sensorsbetween a plurality of lockers comprising at least one wall in which atleast one opening is formed;

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of sharing a plurality of sensorsbetween a plurality of lockers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The invention makes it possible to offer communicating lockers forstoring/distributing objects, grouped or not grouped into storagedevices such as vending machines, and whose function and servicesassociated with each of the lockers (and of the device itself) may varyover time depending on the requirements and uses of users and operators.

The functionalities of this new generation of storage/distributiondevices may be, for example without limitation:

-   -   sales: of fruit, vegetables (bulk products or not), newspapers        or any other consumer goods,    -   baggage lockers: deposition and retrieval of objects by one and        the same person.    -   sending and retrieval of objects: packages, letters, etc.,    -   loaning of objects belonging to others with or without paid use:        hardware such as a drill, a crepe maker, etc.,    -   donation of objects: for example a book, CD or other repository,    -   use for first aid or emergency: storage of goods relating to        first aid or emergencies (defibrillator, fire extinguisher or        the like) for use thereof in an emergency (fire, medical        emergency).

The services of this type of storage according to the invention, byvirtue of the use of one or more sensors (camera, gas sensor forrecognizing foodstuffs or the like), may be for example (non-exhaustivelist):

-   -   Accurately recognizing the object that is placed in a storage        locker,    -   Measuring the weight of the object placed in the storage locker,    -   Measuring the volume of the object that is placed in the storage        locker,    -   Analyzing the air inside and around the storage device,    -   Measuring the temperature inside and around the storage device.

This new communicating deposition/distribution device, the functionalityof each of the “deposit areas” or “communicating lockers” of which maybe reconfigured at any time according to the requirements of each useror of the operator, thus makes it possible to address issues such as:

-   -   Traveling less, by allowing users to use new functionalities        linked to these vending machines (generally located in        high-traffic areas such as urban public transport stations,        which are central or with numerous connections and therefore        very busy),    -   Consuming better and more responsibly, by having access to        varied and/or local products (short trip) in one and the same        location,    -   Limiting packaging, by allowing the self-service sale of bulk        products,    -   Allowing everyone to rent/donate their own objects safely and        securely,    -   Being able to directly sell what has been produced, and to        optimize the use of surfaces available in dense areas by        dynamically reconfiguring the functions and uses of each locker        independently.

These communicating lockers may be offered individually, or grouped intovarious forms (such as in the form of vending machines), or in the formof a succession of larger storage lockers or the like.

They may themselves be reconfigured so as to offer variable storagevolumes (by opening and/or retracting partitions between a plurality ofadjoining lockers so as to create a higher-volume locker).

These communicating lockers may be installed statically (like currentknown vending machines or vending machines with lockers), or embedded inmobile equipment (vehicles, robots, drones, etc.).

Some communicating lockers may have a single functionality, and otherlockers may have multiple functionalities that are able to bereconfigured dynamically, according to the wishes of the manufacturer orthe operator of the lockers/storage device. Any enclosed spacecontrolled by a controllable closure mechanism may potentially become acommunicating locker.

This multifunctional deposition/distribution functionality may also makeit possible to ascertain the habits of the people using it, byautomatically analyzing how it is used, in particular by analyzing itsvarious successive contents. The local ecosystem may even be analyzedand monitored (typically the observation of the interactions of clientswith the various stored objects, according to various areas or types ofarea).

The physical structure of a locker device, its interconnections withremote applications, and usage examples are described in more detailbelow.

In the following text, the term “storage device” is understood to mean aconnected device comprising:

-   -   one or more “locker” compartments,    -   one or more communication modules, for example in each locker,        and    -   one or more sensors, for example in each locker, able to measure        respective physical variables, and deliver respective signals        that are able to be transmitted by the communication module of        the locker to a remote entity.

Furthermore, the term “user” denotes without distinction a natural orlegal person (the operator for example), a software application orcomponent, a software or hardware system or subsystem, a connected ordigital/dematerialized object (book, document or the like), or any otherentity depending on the context of use of the invention, which places orcauses the object to be placed in the locker or storage device. The term“client” denotes the person who then opens the locker or storage devicein order to take the object therefrom.

Thus, a physical storage device groups together one or more connectedlockers, and makes it possible to deposit and/or withdraw one or moreobjects by associating, with each locker or set of lockers containing anobject, a set of precise functionalities at a given time.

This storage device may for example be constructed in the form of avending machine for vending objects, of any other shape/size.

The storage device may be paired with a certain number ofsensors/actuators, making it possible to offer functionalities specificto the storage device.

The locker, which is a physical storage area, is an area closed off by adoor and confines the object in an enclosed space. The door iscontrolled by a processing circuit comprising the communication modulefor communicating with the locker in order to command opening or closureof the door, preferably remotely, when predefined conditions are metaccording to the function or the group of functions sought for thelocker of the storage device.

The locker thus has door locking/unlocking equipment that ensures strictaccess control to the contents of the locker, or group of lockers.Implementing the authorizations required for access, for example theidentification and authentication of the party present, may be based onthe sensors and actuators associated with the locker. The sensors andactuators may be physically present on the locker, or group of lockers,or else placed in a nearby area compatible with the constraints forimplementing the authorization to access the contents of the locker.

The locker is paired with sensors/actuators for offering functionalitiesspecific to each locker, for example for measuring the storageconditions of the deposited product, the shape of the product, itsweight, its condition (ripe foodstuff for example), for recognizing thefunctionalities or the potential use of the deposited product, itsnon-conformity, its hazardousness, etc.

The sensors may measure the physical variables of temperature,hygrometry, pressure (weight of the deposited object), gas detector (alltypes), camera, vibration sensor. The actuators may be, in addition toan electronic latch for locking/unlocking the door, a refrigerationdevice common to one or more lockers, a fire extinguisher, an alarm orthe like.

Each locker may be paired with a set of these sensors/actuators in thesame way, or in a different way, depending on the wishes of the user orthe manufacturer/supplier of the storage device.

A locker is illustrated in FIG. 1. These sensors/actuators may bepositioned on any face of the locker, from A to F, as illustrated inFIG. 1, in which the reference F represents the door having thecontrollable lock (and being able to open from the right, the left, thetop, the bottom, or in any other way).

The locker does not necessarily have a cubic shape as shown in FIG. 1,but may take any shape necessary or desired in order to perform itsfunctions.

Implementing a function, or group of functions, associated with alocker, or group of lockers, may require having resources necessary toexecute instructions of a computer program (for example a processor, astorage memory, a communication module, etc.). These resources may beallocated exclusively to a locker, or group of lockers, or else pooledwithin a group of lockers, or even belong to a system or subsystem (thatis remote or not remote) other than the locker or group of lockers inquestion.

A storage device grouping together a plurality of lockers is illustratedin FIG. 2, with, in the example shown, a human-machine interface (at thetop right of the storage device) for controlling the opening or theclosure of each door of a locker of the device.

FIG. 3 illustrates one practical embodiment purely by way ofillustration, in which:

-   -   the storage device DIS comprises one or more lockers (which are        not necessarily of the same size, as shown at the bottom of FIG.        3 on the left),    -   each locker may comprise a plurality of sensors C1, . . . , Cn,        for example positioned on one or more faces of the locker as        required, as well as one or more actuators ACT for        locking/unlocking the door of the locker,    -   these various equipments C1, . . . , Cn, ACT are connected to a        communication module COM that is integrated or not integrated        into the storage device DIS.

More particularly, the communication module COM is connected, forexample via a wide area network RES, to a server SER (management server)of the locker manager.

Furthermore, this server SER may for example store in memory MEM2 (FIG.6) a lookup table LUT that it may consult in order to determine, for atype of storage requested by a sending user, the sensors of the lockerto be activated (or to bring to the locker as presented further belowwith reference to FIG. 8 in particular) from among the sensors C1, . . ., Cn. Such an embodiment makes it possible to monitor whether the objectdeposited by the sending user actually corresponds to an object expectedfor this locker and/or to raise alarms in the event of a problem linkedto storage (double-headed arrow DF to control the activation of sensorsvia the module COM and to feed the sensor measurements back to theserver SER). For example, in one or more embodiments, the user whodeposits the object may be equipped with a terminal SEXP (for example asmartphone, tablet, personal computer, laptop computer, or anyelectronic equipment designed to execute a software application on aprocessor (for example dedicated software application or web applicationexecuted from a browser) configured so as to perform the functionsdescribed below for the terminal SEXP in one or more embodiments) inorder to define the features of the object to be stored and communicatethe data of the object to the server SER (arrow F1 toward the server).As a variant, of course, the user may enter these data directly via ahuman-machine interface IHM (FIG. 5) of the storage device DIS, at thelocation, before depositing the object in the locker.

“Server” is understood in this document to mean any virtualized ornon-virtualized point of service or any device performing dataprocessing operations, one or more databases, and/or data communicationfunctions. For example, and without limitation, the term “server” mayrefer to a physical processor that is operatively coupled to associatedcommunication, database and data storage functions, or refer to anetwork, a group, a set or a complex of processors and associated datastorage and networking equipment, as well as an operating system and oneor more database system(s) and application software supporting theservices and functions provided by the server. A computing device may beconfigured so as to send and receive signals, via wireless and/or wiredtransmission network(s), or may be configured for data or signalprocessing and/or storage operations, and may therefore operate as aserver. Thus, equipment configured so as to operate as a managementplatform may include, by way of nonlimiting example, dedicated serversmounted on a rack, desktop computers, laptop computers, servicegateways, sometimes called “boxes” or “home gateway”, multimediadecoders, sometimes called “set-top boxes”, integrated equipmentcombining various functionalities, such as two or more of thefunctionalities mentioned above. Management servers or platforms mayvary widely in terms of their configuration or their capabilities, but amanagement server will generally include one or more central processingunit(s) and a memory. A management server may also include one or moremass memory equipment(s), one or more electric power supply (supplies),one or more wireless and/or wired network interface(s), one or moreinput/output interface(s), one or more operating system(s), such asWindows Server, Mac OS X, Unix, Linux, FreeBSD, or an equivalent.

The terms “network” and “communication network” as used in this documentrefer to one or more data links that may couple or connect possiblyvirtualized equipment so as to allow the transportation of electronicdata between computer systems and/or modules and/or other electronicdevices or equipment, such as between a management server and acommunication module of a storage device as proposed in this document orof other types of device, including wireless terminals coupled orconnected via a wireless network, for example. A network may alsoinclude a mass memory for storing data, such as a NAS, for “networkattached storage”, a SAN, for “storage area network”, or any other formof computer-readable or machine-readable medium, for example. A networkmay comprise, in whole or in part, the Internet, one or more local areanetworks or LANs, one or more wide area networks or WANs, wiredconnections, wireless connections, cellular connections, or anycombination of these various networks. Similarly, subnetworks may usevarious architectures or be compliant or compatible with variousprotocols, and interoperate with larger networks. Various types ofequipment may be used to make various architectures or various protocolsinteroperable. For example, a router may be used to provide acommunication link or a data link between two LANs that would otherwisebe separate and independent.

Once the object has been deposited, the management server SER may bedesigned to notify the availability of the package to the terminal SRECof the recipient client (arrow F2). After the object has been retrieved(by a recipient (known or not known to the depositor) or by thedepositor himself/herself), the communication module COM may be designedto signal the retrieval to the server SER, which may then be designed tonotify the terminal SEXP that the object has actually been retrieved(arrow F1 toward the terminal SEXP), as explained in the comments belowin FIG. 4.

The proposed method makes provision, in one or more embodiments, for astorage device comprising at least one locker including alocking/unlocking member (ACT) for locking/unlocking the locker and aplurality of sensors (C1, . . . , Cn) designed to deliver data specificto the objects deposited in the locker to receive a request to store anobject in a locker of the storage device. This storage request may forexample be received from a terminal with which a user is equipped. Theterminal may be for example a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer,a laptop computer, or any electronic equipment designed to execute asoftware application on a processor (for example dedicated softwareapplication or web application executed from a browser). The softwareapplication may then be configured so as to perform the functionsdescribed below for the terminal SEXP in one or more embodiments,following a command from the user made on his/her terminal via theapplication. Depending on the embodiment, the storage request may or maynot comprise data relating to the object. Embodiments in which thedepositing user communicates data data relating to the object to thedata storage device, such as for example features of the object that thedepositing user wishes to deposit in a locker of the storage device, aredescribed below, in particular with reference to FIG. 4.

The proposed method furthermore makes provision to determine a type ofobject corresponding to the object to be stored. This determination maybe performed in one or more embodiments, in whole or in part, by usingdata relating to the object and provided by the depositing user, asdescribed below in the context of embodiments illustrated by FIG. 4.

In other embodiments, this determination may be performed, in whole orin part, by the storage device, in particular by using one or moresensors of the locker of the storage device in which the object willhave been deposited by the depositing user. It may be triggered manually(for example upon the user's indication that the object has beendeposited in the locker) or automatically upon detection that an objecthas been placed in a locker of the device (for example upon detection bya pressure sensor of the weight of the object following its return tothe locker).

For example, when the locker in which the object has been deposited isequipped with a pressure sensor for measuring a weight of the object (orany other sensor able to measure a weight of the object or generate datarelating to the weight of the object), the determination of the type ofobject may use weight data generated by the sensor.

In another example, when the locker in which the object has beendeposited is equipped with a camera for acquiring visual data (an image,a video, etc.) relating to the object (or any other sensor able toacquire visual data relating to the object), the determination of thetype of object may use visual data generated by the sensor.

In embodiments in which the determination of a type of objectcorresponding to the object to be stored is performed, at least in part,by the storage device, this determination may use one or more objectand/or type of object databases, based on one or more data acquisitionsperformed by one or more of the sensors of the locker in which theobject has been placed. For example, these data may be transmitted toone (or more) server(s) hosting these databases, which in turntransmit(s) type of object data as determined using the database ordatabases. The acquired data, to be compared with those in the database,may be for example image data, and an object recognition module may beimplemented, evaluating for example a similarity score between theobject whose image is acquired and images from the database.

In embodiments in which the determination of a type of objectcorresponding to the object to be stored is performed jointly on thebasis of data relating to the object that are generated by the storagedevice, on the one hand, and on the basis of data relating to the objectthat are received by the storage device, on the other hand, the type ofobject data resulting from the determination by the storage device andthe type of object data resulting from the determination performed onthe basis of the received data may be combined in order to refine thedetermination of the type of object deposited in the locker.

In one or more embodiments, the proposed method then makes provision toselect, depending on the determined type of object, a set of sensorsfrom among the plurality of sensors of the locker to be activated atleast during use of the locker. As described below, the determination ofthe set of sensors to be activated for use of the locker may take intoaccount a determination of the type of object that led to determiningthat the object is of perishable foodstuff type, in order to allow thedepositing user to manage storage times for perishable foodstuffs placedin lockers on the basis of images of these foodstuffs, taken at forexample regular intervals by an image sensor of the locker, andtransmitted to the depositing user, and/or on the basis of datagenerated by a gas analysis sensor.

In one or more embodiments, the proposed method furthermore makesprovision to activate the selected sensors in order to monitor thestorage upon detection of use of the locker.

The detection of use of the locker may vary according to the embodiment,and for example correspond to the detection that the locker has beenlocked, by the user or by the device upon command from the depositinguser, or correspond to the reception of a user command, in particular incases where the locker in which the object has been placed is notlocked.

Monitoring the storage may correspond, depending on the embodiment, tomore or less sophisticated storage management, for example in order todetermine that the object is still placed in the locker or by contrastthat it has been removed therefrom. In one or more embodiments, themonitoring may also comprise continuous monitoring of the object, forexample in the case where the object is of perishable foodstuff type, asindicated above. Depending on the embodiment, the monitoring may thus beperformed to varying degrees, depending on the use made of the lockerand/or the object or type of object for which the storage device isused.

With reference now to FIG. 4, the terminal of the depositing user SEXP(or as a variant directly the interface IHM of the storage device), inone or more embodiments, may contact (S1) the server SER in order tocommunicate thereto features of the object that the depositing userwishes to deposit, as well as possibly the coordinates of the recipientuser if the latter is known, for example an identifier associated withhis/her terminal SREC.

The features of the object are then analyzed (S2) in order to determinewhich sensors are relevant, from among the sensors C1 to Cn, in relationto the type of storage required by the object. For example, if it is abasket of vegetables, a gas release sensor, capable of detecting theonset of decomposition of these perishable foodstuffs, may be selected(S4) from among the sensors to be activated during the storage of theobject. Furthermore, for this example, a pressure sensor may beactivated (S4) in order to weigh the object at the time when it isreturned to the locker and determine whether the weight thus measuredmatches the previously analyzed features (S2). In another example, aphotograph may be taken, for example from the front, of the object to bestored, in the case where it is an object other than a perishablefoodstuff, the data from this photograph then forming part of thepreviously analyzed features (S2) of the object. A camera, as sensor,will thus for example be activated (S4) in order also to take aphotograph of the object from the front and determine whether the objectdeposited in the locker actually matches the photographed object.Moreover, a weight of the object or other features may be provided (S2)in order to see whether it matches for example the weight measured by anappropriate sensor (pressure sensor for example for the weight) that waspreviously activated (S4), this being done at the time when the objectis deposited.

Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the proposed storage method anddevice may be designed such that the depositing user is able to provide(S3) authentication data of the recipient client receiving the objectfor this locker, provided that the depositing user has such datarelating to one or more recipients of the object (for example biometricdata that the recipient will have previously communicated to thedepositing user, or even an identifier and a password agreed with therecipient or the like).

Next, the server SER determines (S4) the set of sensors to be selectedin order to activate them at the time when the object is inserted intothe locker, in particular in order to check whether the object actuallycorresponds to the previously provided features (S2). In one or moreembodiments, this check may be based on a lookup table LUT, which maylist the sets of sensors appropriate for various types of objects, aswell as possibly the lockers equipped with these appropriate sensors,and which are effectively available from among the bank of lockers. Theserver is thus also able to check the availability of such a locker.

If in particular:

-   -   the recipient's authentication data have been provided        correctly,    -   the deposited type of object is authorized,    -   the locker able to accommodate this type of object is actually        available, then the transaction may be validated (S5).

In this case, the server SER may store (S8) the recipient'sauthentication data, if these are known. These data may be used at thetime when the recipient, if he/she is known, wishes to retrieve (S9) theobject.

Once the transaction has been validated (S5), the depositing user mayplace the object in the locker reserved beforehand by the server SER,and the sensors of the locker that have been selected to be active (C1 .. . Cn for example) may determine (S6) whether the object actuallycorresponds to that which was the subject of the validated transaction(S5). This may involve for example a camera, as sensor, that takes aphotograph of the object deposited in the locker and, with a shaperecognition software module, determines whether the object actuallycorresponds to the object of the transaction, and/or even a weightsensor for determining conformity of the weight of the deposited object,or any other existing or future sensor, according to the requirements atthe time and the use desired by the depositor.

To this end, at the time when the actuator ACT has to lock the door ofthe locker, the communication module COM transmits the data from thesensor or sensors involved to the server, which data are analyzed at theserver, in order to determine conformity of the object. The actuator ACTlocks the door only on the condition that the data fed back by thesensors actually correspond to those of the object that was the subjectof the transaction. If this is the case, the actuator locks the door ofthe locker and the communication module COM feeds back informationvalidating the deposition of the object to the server. Otherwise, theserver SER may notify, via the interface IHM or on the depositor'sterminal SEXP, the identifier (a number or the like) of the locker thatshould be used from among the lockers of the storage device, this lockerbeing the one that has been reserved beforehand (S4).

It should furthermore be noted that the camera, associated with theshape recognition module, may, depending on the embodiment, make itpossible to detect the presence of an unauthorized object (weapon, bomb,drug, living animal or the like) and for example trigger an alarm at theserver.

Once the object has been placed in the appropriate locker, and it hasbeen determined, if necessary, that the object actually corresponds tothat of the validated transaction (S5), the server may notify (S7) therecipient of the object, if he/she is known, for example by sending amessage to the recipient's terminal SREC, or notify any user interestedin this type of object who has made himself/herself known to the systembeforehand, so that a recipient is able to come and retrieve the object.The opening of the locker and the retrieval of the object may then beperformed (S9) in a conventional manner per se, by authenticating thepossible recipient by virtue of the data stored beforehand (S8) by theserver. For example, the interface IHM of the storage device may receivean identifier and a password, or even biometric fingerprints of therecipient, and then feed these data back to the server SER via thecommunication module COM for comparison. If the data match, the servermay then control the actuator ACT via the module COM so as to open thedoor of the locker.

In one or more embodiments, at least some of the sensors C1 . . . Cn mayremain active until the opening of the locker (S9), in particular inorder to feed back to the server a problem linked to the storage, suchas for example an onset of decomposition of perishable foodstuffs(illustrated by the arrow in dotted lines between references S6 and S9in FIG. 4).

After the object has been retrieved (S9), the communication module COMmay notify the server SER of this event, and the server may then notifythis (S10) to the terminal of the depositing user SEXP, thereby ending(S11) the exemplary embodiment of the proposed method illustrated by thediagram in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates one possible structure of a processing circuit CT1fitted to a storage device comprising a locker or a set of lockers.

In particular, each sensor C1 . . . Cn of a locker is connected to one(or more) input interface(s) INT of the processing circuit CT1.Moreover, the actuator for locking/unlocking the door of the locker isconnected to a control module PIL for controlling the actuator ACT. Inparticular, each of these equipments INT, PIL are connected to one (ormore) processor(s) PROC able to read instruction data from a computerprogram for implementing one or more embodiments of the proposed device,these instruction data being stored in a memory MEM connected to theprocessor PROC and that is contained in the processing circuit CT1. Theprocessing circuit CT1 may furthermore comprise a human-machineinterface IHM for the identification of users (by entering biometricfingerprints or a password, as indicated above, for example by therecipient of the object, if he/she is known), this interface IHM alsobeing connected to the processor PROC. Finally, the processing circuitCT1 may typically comprise the communication module COM forcommunicating at least with the server SER, via a wide area network forexample.

With reference to FIG. 6, the server SER itself comprises a processingcircuit CT2 also equipped with a processor PROC2 and with a memory MEM2storing at least instruction data from a computer program forimplementing one or more embodiments of the proposed systems and methods(and in particular the actions S4, S8, S3, S6, S9, in cooperation withthe processing circuit CT1 of the storage device presented withreference to FIG. 5) when these data are read by the processor PROC2. Ofcourse, the processing circuit CT2 also comprises a communicationinterface COM2 for communicating with the communication modules COM ofthe remote storage devices.

Of course, the depictions in FIGS. 3 to 6 are illustrative, and givenhere by way of possible exemplary embodiments, which may be adapteddifferently depending on the applications and the various conceivableuses that are described below.

It will nevertheless be noted that the function of a locker of theproposed device may advantageously be modified when desired, forexample, by a user of the locker or the administrator of thelocker/storage device, thereby making it possible to offer the uservarious possible functionalities, depending on the object(s) that he/shedeposits there, and the variety of uses that he/she may wish to make ofa locker.

This function modification is performed for example via an applicationon a mobile telephone/tablet/computer, or a local human-machineinterface (touch, voice, etc.) available on the locker itself or on theencompassing system, managing one or more lockers, such as theabovementioned storage device.

The function may likewise be modified through one or more programminginterfaces (or “API” for Application Programming Interface).

Depending on the embodiment, a request to modify a function, or a groupof functions, associated with a locker or group of lockers may triggerone or more of the following actions:

-   -   Identifying the requirements in terms of sensors and actuators        required to implement the function requested from the group of        lockers,    -   Identifying computer processing functions and communications        required to implement the function,    -   Analyzing the presence and the state of the sensors and        actuators available to execute the function,    -   Analyzing the presence and the state of the computer processing        unit and of the communications available to execute the        function,    -   Calculating the difference between expressed requirements and        elements already present in order to define a target system        configuration expressing requirements in terms of processing and        communication resources,    -   Analyzing the availability of the processing and communication        resources accessible to a locker or a group of lockers, in order        to define a distributed or centralized system having the        resources required to implement the function or the group of        functions,    -   Reserving the resources for correctly executing the function or        group of functions,    -   Calculating the reconfiguration of the target system, which in        particular comprises operations of: deploying appropriate        software components on the execution resources, configuring        deployed software components, configuring communication links,        etc.,    -   Implementing reconfiguration operations on the target system,    -   Activating the function or group of functions.

The proposed storage device may therefore be designed such that, in oneor more embodiments, a user is able to deposit one or more objects in alocker, and that a function associated with this locker is thendetermined, for example via a local human-machine interface, or via adedicated software application (on a mobile telephone, tablet, PC, orany other equipment).

Depending on the embodiments, the functionalities of the lockers may bemore or less sophisticated, in particular in view of the sensors presentin each locker. The locker may typically contain a camera for filmingany object deposited inside. It may then offer a functionality forautomatic detection of the type of object deposited in the locker, inthe form for example of a computerized module for recognizing shapes inthe images taken by the camera. This module may raise an alert via acommunication module of the locker in order to prevent the insertion ofan object of unexpected shape, or even of an object of suspicious shape,into the locker.

For example, in the case of package delivery, a delivery manager servermay take an image of the package from the front and transmit it to alocker manager server following a transaction between the deliverymanager server and the locker manager server.

Thus, when the package is inserted into the locker assigned to thepackage during the transaction, the camera may take an image of thepackage (by being arranged on the upper wall of the locker for example)and the shape recognition module may determine whether the imageacquired by the camera of the locker corresponds to the image acquiredduring the transaction. For example, the shape recognition module maycontrol the opening/closing actuator for opening/closing the locker soas not to authorize closure of the locker for as long as these twoimages do not match, or even make closure of the locker conditional onan additional check on the user (notification and waiting for a responseon his/her mobile terminal for example), or else make closure of thelocker conditional on an additional check for example on the weight ofthe package compared to an expected weight (this time using a pressuresensor on the bottom wall of the locker).

In another embodiment, the locker may have a gas detector and offer afunctionality allowing the user (fruit producer for example) who hasdeposited his/her fruit in the locker to be informed that one of his/herfruit baskets is starting to decompose so that he/she is able to comeand replace it.

In another embodiment, a locker may have a pressure sensor in order toascertain the weight of a deposited object (a drill for example). Inthis case too, the pressure sensor may determine the weight of theobject in order to identify a match with a presumed weight of the objectat the time of a prior transaction, or with a previously determinedweight. For example, if a user rents an object and brings it back to alocker in order to return it to the renter, the pressure sensor withwhich the locker is fitted may be used to check whether the weight ofthe returned object corresponds to the weight of the rented object(known to the renter), thus providing an element of checking that thereturned object actually corresponds to the rented one.

The abovementioned sensors are only mentioned by way of example, andmany other sensors may be used in these lockers depending on theembodiment.

In one or more embodiments, one and the same locker may be equipped withvarious sensors, thereby advantageously offering the possibility ofdynamically reconfiguring the use, the functionalities and the behaviorof a locker, or group of lockers, through the implementation ofdifferent sensors and actuators operated by computing functionscomplying with a target use. For example, at a given time, a locker mayhave the function of selling a basket of fruit and vegetables, and thenserving as a package depot for a shipment, and then allowing the rentalof an object, and then offering a free book or sleeping bag to whomeverneeds it.

In one or more embodiments, the sensors/actuators paired with eachlocker, as well as all of the hardware equipment (computing card,storage, type of interfaces with a user) may be activated completely orpartially at any time, in particular when the user identifies himself tothe locker or storage device for the purpose of storage providedbeforehand during a transaction describing the nature of the package tobe stored.

In one or more embodiments, the storage device is designed such that theusers are initially able to register in a user database, for example viaan application (dedicated application or web application) and/or via thelocal human-machine interface. A user registered in the database may beassigned rights to use the storage device, allowing him/her to pre-empta free locker, remotely via the application or, if he/she travels to thelocation where the communicating lockers are located, to identify a freelocker and to pre-empt it in order to use it. This user may then assigna function to this locker via the application or the local human-machineinterface. Depending on the sensors/actuators installed within thelocker, said locker may offer more or fewer value-added services orfunctionalities. The functionalities linked to the function assigned bythe user are configured, based on configuration data for example storedon the management server and communicated to the storage device in orderto configure the locker, and/or via the application or the localhuman-machine interface, such that said user is able to deposit theobject in the locker and that, when the user closes the locker orcommands closure of the door of the locker, the locker is configured soas to act as requested by its new function.

Thus, in one or more embodiments, each communicating locker may beconfigured with any type of sensor/actuator, from the simplest to themost complicated, making it possible to offer any type of service andfunctionality on the basis of the hardware possibilities that areoffered.

In one or more embodiments, the storage device, which groups togetherthe communicating lockers, may itself be paired with any type ofsensor/actuator, so as to also have its own locally or remotelyaccessible functionalities, for example for administration,(self)-diagnosis of the correct operation of the lockers that itcontains, detection of the number of crossings in front of the storagedevice, detection of an unauthorized attempt to open a locker withtaking of a photograph of the unauthorized user, statistics on the useof each locker, on the habits of the people using them, etc.

In order to maintain the storage device, there may be provision, in oneor more embodiments, for the possibility to physically remove a sensor,an actuator or another connected part of the locker equipment, and/or toadd one or more equipments thereto that are not originally provided(sensors, actuators or the like). The addition of sensors and actuators,but also of execution or communication resources, may take place withinthe locker, or group of lockers, but also more broadly within thecontext of defining target systems linked to the function, or group offunctions, to be implemented. Any configuration modification may be madevisible, for example by a step by step notification mechanism asproposed by the UPnP protocol, or within a register as proposed bysystems based on “brokers”.

This addition of equipment may be used by a service deployed for thelocker itself, or by a service of the system incorporating the locker(the storage device), or by any other local or remote equipment(including the locker and/or storage device) that may require the use ofthe capabilities of this new equipment.

Thus, for example, in one or more embodiments, a user may choose, forexample and without limitation, via an application on a mobile terminal(smartphone or the like, connected to a server of the storage devicemanager) or a local interface contained in the storage device, one ofthe functionalities explained below, if the hardware configuration(sensors/actuators) linked to the selected locker allows this.

The baggage locker, first of all, allows objects to be deposited andretrieved by one and the same person. A user deposits an object thereand closes the locker. Only this same user is able to retrieve thisobject later on.

The sale of fruit, vegetables, and other foodstuffs, or even newspapers,or any other goods may take place as follows. A farmer may decide todeposit a basket of fruit, a kilogram of carrots or a bag of potatoes,and then tell an interface of the locker that he wishes to sell thisproduct at a specific price. This functionality allows the door of thelocker to be opened only if a buyer pays the amount indicated toretrieve the product. It will be understood here that the actuator ofthe locker, in order to unlock the door, is connected to a paymentverification module (bank card payment terminal, cash payment or thelike).

The storage device may thus be configured so as to update a database ofobjects and goods for sale, consulted by the application, so that all ofthe users of the application are able to be informed thereof if theywish to purchase this object/these goods. Moreover, any user interestedin the object/the goods may reserve these goods for a limited time (withor without prepayment), the time it takes to travel to the storagedevice, identify himself/herself and, after finalizing the payment,retrieve the desired object/goods. The depositor/owner of theobject/goods offered for sale, once duly identified, may come andretrieve same at any time without paying the requested amount.

The retrieval of packages, letters and various objects may take placefor example as follows. A deliverer deposits a package in a locker (forexample near the destination address). The deliverer indicates, via amobile application or the local interface, that the package is depositedin this locker and has a client registered in the application as itsrecipient. The client is then informed by the mobile application that apackage is waiting for him/her in this locker. He/she is thus able tocome and collect it when he/she wants (within a reasonable/legal periodunder penalty for example of his/her package being returned to thesender or paying a tax related to the duration of the storage). Byidentifying himself/herself once at the location (using an identifierand password for example, or through biometric fingerprint recognitionor the like), the locker opens its door in order to deliver the package.It will be understood here that the actuator of the locker, in order tounlock the door, may be connected to a module for checking the identityof the client (for example via an interface for entering theidentifier/password or biometric fingerprint of the client, or throughrecognition of a client terminal though near-field reading or the like,or through any other means).

Packages and letters may thus be shipped. A user deposits a package in alocker. The user configures the function of the locker for “sendingpackages” via the application on his/her mobile or via the localhuman-machine interface. The delivery manager is informed that a packagemust be picked up in precisely this locker. When the deliverer comes toretrieve the package, he/she identifies himself/herself at the location,and the locker(s) containing the package(s) to be removed open(s) sothat the package(s) is (are) retrieved. Depending on the level offunctionalities present in the locker or the storage device, the senderof the package may be informed at this time via the mobile applicationthat his/her package has actually been removed.

Moreover, the storage device or the application may be configured so as,on the basis of information provided by the user sending the package, toinform a delivery company to come and collect the package initiallyplaced in a first locker by the sender of the package. The deliverycompany then transports the object from the first locker to a secondlocker for the retrieval of the package. Depending on thefunctionalities of the communicating locker, it is possible to offer thedepositor of the package an acknowledgement of receipt when the packageis removed by the delivery company, or any other functionality.

The loan or rental of objects may take place as follows. A user who ownsan object that he/she does not use any more or uses infrequently (forexample a drill, a crepe maker, a baby monitor or the like) may wish tomake it available to anyone who may need it as a one-off. The usertherefore brings such an object and deposits it in a free locker. Theuser informs the storage device, via the application or via a localhuman-machine interface, that he/she has deposited the rental object inthis locker, and that he/she wishes to rent out this object at a pricethat he/she sets himself/herself (per hour, per day, per week, etc.).The actuator closes the locker and updates the function of the locker sothat it does not open unless a third person identifies himself/herselfand agrees to pay the indicated price. The rental may run for as long asthe third person has not returned the object to a similar free locker(the same or any other locker offering identical or equivalentfunctionalities, situated in the same location or elsewhere). If theowner wishes to retrieve his/her goods, he/she identifieshimself/herself on the storage device where his/her object is located(located via the mobile application), and the locker opens in order toallow him/her to retrieve it.

In this embodiment, a user may consult the mobile application whenlooking for a particular object. The application may geolocate the userand provide him/her with the location of the nearest storage devicecontaining this object. The user may reserve the object if he/she wishesvia the application and then travel to the indicated location. He/sheidentifies himself/herself at the location, and retrieves the desiredobject.

Once he/she has finished using the object, the user has to return it toan available storage device. He/she identifies himself/herself to thestorage device, indicates that he/she is returning a rented object,deposits it in the storage device, and closes the door again so that thestorage device is able to validate the return of the object. If thestorage device has a camera, or a weight sensor, it is possible to offerfor example a function for visually checking that the object returned tothe storage device is identical to the one that was borrowed, or elsethat its weight is identical.

A first aid application in an emergency situation may take place asfollows. Based on the principle of loaning, it is possible to use thesame method to store first aid or emergency goods there (defibrillator,fire extinguisher, first aid, etc.), allowing them to be retrieved andused quickly in case of emergency. The user travels to the storagedevice, identifies himself/herself, indicates the type of emergencysituation (fire, medical emergency or the like), and/or the first aidobject that he/she wishes to retrieve.

The storage device then opens the door of a locker containing equipmentsuitable for the situation in order to retrieve the first aid goods.There may be provision for a mechanism for recording the identity of theuser by photographing the user or by reading an identity document inorder to avoid any improper or fraudulent use of the device.

It is possible to contemplate the use of such a service by people whohave not registered beforehand in a user database, for example bydialing an emergency number on the local human-machine interface, or viathe application for locating and opening these communicating lockerswithout prior subscription or registration.

An object donation application may take place based on the same model asbook repositories. A user may wish to donate an object rather than rentit. He/she thus deposits the object that he/she wishes to donate in alocker, provides information via the mobile application or the localhuman-machine interface that this object may be retrieved free ofcharge, and the system modifies its function so as to open the lockerwhen a third person requests it.

Typically, the application may geolocate the user and tell him/her thenearest storage device in which a particular object, available free ofcharge if appropriate, is located. The user travels to the storagedevice, identifies himself/herself, indicates which object he/she wishesto retrieve, and, since the object has been declared as a donation bythe previous owner, the storage device opens the door for him/her sothat he/she is able to retrieve it free of charge. Once the door hasbeen closed again, the storage device updates the application databasein order to indicate that this object is no longer available/that thelocker is empty.

A user may furthermore delegate rights to another user. Typically in thecase of retrievals, this functionality may be useful for example for anelderly person delegating a right to retrieve his/her packages tohis/her personal assistant for situations where he/she does not feelable to go and retrieve the package himself/herself (fatigue, poorhealth, bad weather, weight of the package, etc.). The delegation ofrights may be temporary or permanent.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7 in order to describe an embodiment inwhich, in this case, one and the same sensor CAP may be shared betweentwo lockers CAS1 and CAS2. The two lockers have a common partitiondefined by two walls referenced PAR1 for the locker CAS1 and PAR2 forthe locker CAS2. Part of each wall PAR1, PAR2 is retractable in order tofree up an opening through which the sensor CAP is able to pass into oneof the lockers (the locker CAS1 in FIG. 7). To this end, a shutter CLA1may be provided, pivoting on a hinge CHA1, formed in the first wall PAR1in order to free up the opening of the first locker CAS1 and thus allowthe sensor CAP to pass into the first locker CAS1. Of course, a shutterCLA2 is provided symmetrically, pivoting on a hinge CHA2, formed in thesecond wall PAR2 in order to free up the opening of the second lockerCAS2 and thus possibly allow the sensor CAP to pass into the secondlocker CAS2. Thus, the sensor CAP (for example a camera or the like) isable to pivot from a first position in the first locker CAS1 to a secondposition in the second locker CAS2, by virtue of a pivoting memberpivoting about a ball joint ROT to which the sensor CAP is connected. Itshould be noted that the sensor CAP may also be “stowed” in anintermediate position between the two walls PAR1 and PAR2. There is ofcourse provision for a connection CC of the sensor CAP, for example forits supply of electric power and/or communicating data that it (CAP)senses.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8 in order to describe one generalembodiment, which may optionally incorporate the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 7, and in which all of the sensors are initially housed in oneor more sensor housings LC1, LC2, LC3, etc. In the example illustrated,each locker CAS1, CAS2, CAS3, etc. furthermore comprises at least oneopening CLA1, respectively CLA2, CLA3. Each locker may comprise otheropenings CLA11, CLA12 for the insertion of sensors, in identical ordifferent numbers. The openings may optionally be covered with aretractable shutter, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In particular, a routingmember ACH is configured so as to route each sensor from a housing LC1to a locker opening CLA1, CLA2, CLA3. The routing member ACH maycomprise a mechanical clamp that is articulated and guided on rails (orby cables) for holding a sensor in a housing LC1, LC2, etc. and routingit to an opening CLA1, CLA2, etc. of a locker. The routing member ACHmay alternatively comprise a magnetic head for attracting metal parts ofeach sensor and then moving a sensor held in this way.

For example, there may be provision for a set of sensors of varioustypes in the housing LC2 between the two adjacent lockers CAS1 and CAS2and which may be routed to the openings CLA1, CLA2 of these lockers CAS1and CAS2. The set of sensors housed in the housing LC2 may thus beshared between the locker CAS1 and the locker CAS2. The same applies forthe sensors of the housing LC3, which are shared between the locker CAS2and the locker CAS3, etc.

Typically, it is possible to provide a plurality of sensors of the sametype (a camera for example) in a housing LC2 when a particular type ofsensor is often requested for all of the lockers CAS1, CAS2, or elsesuch that, in the event of failure of a sensor of this type, it ispossible to route a replacement sensor into the housing.

As an alternative to this embodiment, provision may be made for housingsfor respective types of sensors and to route a sensor of each type,selected in step S4 of FIG. 4, to a current locker to be equipped forthe purpose of imminent storage.

Of course, with reference to FIG. 9, it is also possible to provide asingle housing LC for all of the types of sensors, for example parallelto the rail RAI that serves a whole set of lockers, as illustrated inthe example of FIG. 9.

It will furthermore be noted, in any of the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9in particular, that the means for routing the sensors/actuators are ableto move in three dimensions (horizontal, vertical, forward/backward, andany combination between these movements). It furthermore makes itpossible to transport not only one, but possibly a plurality ofsensors/actuators at the same time to the locker to be equipped(typically a block of sensors chosen for a given type of monitoring).

Of course, these functionalities are only examples of possible servicesof such communicating lockers. Other functionalities are also possible,depending on the uses and requirements of the users.

Depending on the embodiment chosen, some acts, actions, events orfunctions of each of the methods described in the present document maybe performed or take place in an order different from that in which theyhave been described, or may be added, combined or else may not beperformed or may not take place, as the case may be. Furthermore, insome embodiments, some acts, actions or events are performed or takeplace concurrently and not successively.

Although they are described through a certain number of detailedexemplary embodiments, the systems, storage devices, platform(s),servers, user equipment and methods that are proposed comprise variousvariants, modifications and refinements that will become obviouslyapparent to a person skilled in the art, it being understood that thesevarious variants, modifications and refinements form part of the scopeof the invention, as defined by the following claims. In addition,various aspects and features described above may be implemented togetheror separately or else substituted with one another, and all of thevarious combinations and sub-combinations of the aspects and featuresform part of the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it may be the casethat some systems and equipment described above do not incorporate allof the modules and functions described for the preferred embodiments.

1. A method for managing storage of objects, in a storage device having:at least one locker including a locking/unlocking member forlocking/unlocking the locker, and a plurality of sensors designed todeliver data specific to the objects deposited in the locker; whereinthe method comprises: receiving a request to store an object in a lockerof the storage device; determining a type of object corresponding to theobject to be stored; selecting, on the basis of the determined type ofobject, a set of sensors from among the plurality of sensors of thelocker to be activated at least during use of the locker; upon detectinguse of the locker, activating the selected sensors in order to monitorthe storage.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthermore comprising:receiving data relating to the object; determining the type of object onthe basis of the received data; upon detecting use of the locker,processing the data delivered by the set of activated sensors in orderto check whether the object deposited in the locker corresponds to thedetermined type of object according to at least one chosen criterion,and controlling the locking/unlocking member for locking/unlocking thelocker according to a respectively positive/negative check on thedeposited object.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the datarelating to the object comprise at least image data of the object, andthe set of activated sensors comprises a camera able, in cooperationwith a shape recognition module, to acquire at least one image of theobject following the deposition of the object in the locker, the methodfurthermore comprising: determining whether the captured image data ofthe deposited object correspond to the image correspond to the imagedata relating to the object.
 4. The method according to claim 2, whereinthe data relating to the object comprise at least data about the weightof the object, and the set of activated sensors comprises a pressuresensor on a lower internal wall of the locker for weighing the objectfollowing the deposition of the object in the locker, the methodfurthermore comprising: determining whether the weight measured by thepressure sensor corresponds to the weight of the object according to thereceived data.
 5. The method according to claim 1, furthermorecomprising: determining the type of object on the basis of datagenerated by at least one of the sensors of the selected set of sensors.6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage device comprisesa plurality of lockers, and at least one locker is chosen, from amongsaid plurality of lockers, to store objects on the basis of the type ofobject to be stored, the method furthermore comprising: identifying alocker including the selected set of sensors and able to store theobject.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of sensorsthat are activated for a given locker is able to be modified at leastfrom one unlocking of the locker to a next unlocking, in particular onthe basis of the type of object to be stored.
 8. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said at least one locker comprises at least one wall inwhich at least one opening is formed, the method comprising: afterselecting the set of sensors to be activated, routing at least onesensor of the selected set to said opening in order to at leastpartially insert this sensor into the locker.
 9. The method according toclaim 8, wherein the storage device furthermore comprises at least onehousing for a plurality of sensors, the method comprising: afterselecting the set of sensors to be activated, checking availability ofthe sensors of the selected set in the locker, and, in response to atleast one of the sensors of the set being unavailable in the locker,routing a sensor homologous to the unavailable sensor from the sensorhousing to the opening of the locker.
 10. The method according to claim9, wherein: the storage device comprises a plurality of lockers eachcomprising at least one wall comprising at least one opening, thehousing comprises a plurality of distinct types of sensors atpredetermined locations in the housing, the storage device furthermorecomprises a routing member for routing a sensor from a location of thissensor in the housing to a locker opening, the method comprising: afterselecting the set of sensors to be activated in a current locker,checking availability of the sensors of the selected set in the currentlocker, and, in response to at least one of the sensors of the set beingunavailable in the current locker, directing the routing member tocontrol the routing of a sensor homologous to the unavailable sensorfrom the location of the homologous sensor in the sensor housing to theopening of the current locker.
 11. A storage device comprising: at leastone locker including a locking/unlocking member for locking/unlockingthe locker; a plurality of sensors designed to deliver data specific toobjects deposited in the locker; and a processing circuit configured toreceive a request to store an object in a locker of the at least onelocker; determine a type of object corresponding to the object to bestored; select, on the basis of the determined type of object, a set ofsensors from among the plurality of sensors of the locker to beactivated at least during use of the locker; and upon detecting use ofthe locker, activate the selected sensors in order to monitor thestorage.
 12. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein thelocker comprises at least one wall in which at least one opening isformed, and the storage device furthermore comprises a routing memberfor routing at least one sensor of the selected set to said opening inorder to at least partially insert this sensor into the locker.
 13. Thestorage device according to claim 12, wherein the storage devicefurthermore comprises at least one housing for a plurality of sensors,the routing member being designed to route a sensor of the selected setfrom the sensor housing to the opening of the locker.
 14. An objectstorage management system, comprising: a server; and a storage devicecomprising: at least one locker including a plurality of sensors, anactuator for locking/unlocking the locker, and a communication modulefor communicating with the server, the server comprising a processingcircuit configured to: receive a request to store an object in a lockerof the at least one locker, determine a type of object corresponding tothe object to be stored; select, on the basis of the determined type ofobject, a set of sensors from among the plurality of sensors of thelocker to be activated at least during use of the locker; upon detectinguse of the locker, activate the selected sensors in order to monitor thestorage.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having storedthereon software instructions that, when executed by a processor, causethe processor to to implement a method for managing storage of objectsin a storage device when said instructions are executed by a processor,the storage device having: at least one locker including alocking/unlocking member for locking/unlocking the locker, and aplurality of sensors designed to deliver data specific to the objectsdeposited in the locker: wherein the instructions configure theprocessor to: receive a request to store an object in a locker of thestorage device; determine a type of object corresponding to the objectto be stored; select, on the basis of the determined type of object, aset of sensors from among the plurality of sensors of the locker to beactivated at least during use of the locker; upon detecting use of thelocker, activate the selected sensors in order to monitor the storage.